Weekly News highlights

The public service's overtime bill for the summer months, when the public sector works half days, last year surpassed Lm1.7 million. In both 2002 and 2001, overtime in July, August and September cost taxpayers over Lm2 million, according to official documents.

Sources close to the government said the time was ripe to see how the public service could become leaner and smarter and be in a position to assist - rather than act as an obstacle to - economic growth.

S&P affirms Malta's sovereign debt ratings

Standard & Poor's Rating Services on Tuesday affirmed its long- and short-term A/A-1 foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Malta, following a review.

It also affirmed its A+/A-1 local currency sovereign credit ratings on Malta. The outlook is stable. In addition, S&P affirmed its A senior unsecured debt rating on Malta Freeport Corp. Ltd's two outstanding bonds, guaranteed by the central government.

Satellite dishes - fines for non-payment of tax in abeyance

The Wireless Telegraphy Department has received hundreds of letters from satellite dish owners complaining that the annual Lm25 tax charged by the government was a local imposition that went against European Union regulations.

The Attorney General's office has advised the department not to answer any queries or letters of complaint received from clients.

Illegal fishing floats seized

The Armed Forces removed a number of illegally laid floats (kannizzati) used for lampuki fishing which were found about nine kilometres to the west of Ghajn Tuffieha Bay.

The AFM said 16 floats were recovered by a patrol boat of the maritime squadron during a routine patrol on Tuesday. They have been confiscated. The blue fin fishing season opened on Thursday so any kannizzati laid before that date are illegal, the AFM said.

Lm2.5m in EU funding for farmers and herdsmen

A total of €6 million (Lm2.5 million) are available to local farmers and herdsmen as part of the European Union Structural Fund Programme for 2004-2006, Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said on Friday during a seminar on rural development.

Two schemes, financed partly by the EU and partly by the Maltese government, are available for farmers and herdsmen, he said. Seventy per cent of both schemes are financed by the EU, with the balance coming from the government.

Private investigator's report was made up

Evasive answers given by private investigator Joseph Zahra during questioning turned him from witness to prime suspect, assistant police commissioner Michael Cassar said on Friday.

When Joseph Zahra was called in for questioning on a report alleging irregularities in the allocation of the Mater Dei Hospital tender, he refused to reveal the identity of informers, who he claimed had hard evidence in hand, as he did not want to breach professional secrecy.

Zahra, the officer explained, was initially interviewed as a witness but when he remained evasive in answering questions put to him the interview turned into an interrogation.

He was testifying before Magistrate Giovanni Grixti in the compilation of evidence against Zahra, 50, of Marsascala who is pleading not guilty to filing a police report against people he knew to be innocent and spreading false news that could alarm the public.

At the end of Friday's sitting the magistrate ruled there were enough reasons for Zahra to be indicted.